FREELINE THERAPEUTICS APPOINTS ANNE PRENER AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

10th Jul 2017 By admin

Freeline Therapeutics (“Freeline”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of curative gene therapies for bleeding and other debilitating disorders, today announced that Anne Prener has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Anne has extensive experience in drug development and commercialisation with a specific focus on gene therapy and rare diseases. Anne joins Freeline from Gyroscope Therapeutics, a gene therapy company focused on blinding diseases where she has been Chief Executive Officer since August 2016.

From 2014 to 2016 Anne served as Vice President, Clinical Research Haematology and Global Therapeutic Area Head of Haematology at Baxalta. During her tenure, three new major product approvals in both the US and EU were secured along with a significant advancement in Baxalta’s haematology portfolio including gene therapy for haemophilia.

Anne’s previous positions include Senior Vice President, Haemophilia R&D Portfolio at Novo Nordisk where she was instrumental in building the haemophilia franchise to a portfolio of several late stage and commercial products.

In addition, Anne is a past Council member of the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation, a non-profit organisation striving to improve access to care for people with haemophilia and allied bleeding disorders.

Anne is an MD from Copenhagen University and holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology.

Anne Prener, Chief Executive Officer of Freeline Therapeutics, said: “I am excited to be joining Freeline at this important time in the Company’s development as our most advanced programme approaches the clinical proof of concept stage and with our novel pipeline not far behind. Freeline comprises some of the world’s leading experts in gene therapy, haemophilia and other debilitating disorders and I look forward to working closely with them to demonstrate the potential of our next-generation AAV gene therapy platform.”

Chris Hollowood, Chairman of Freeline Therapeutics and Chief Investment Officer of Syncona Ltd., added: “Anne is an extremely accomplished executive with extensive experience in building and leading teams and developing haematology and gene therapy products that positively impact patients’ lives. She joins an established team and a company with a strong foundation poised for the next phase of its growth.

“I would like to thank Jan Thirkettle who has been instrumental in rapidly advancing the company to its current position. In addition to continuing his key role as Chief Development Officer at Freeline, I look forward to working with Jan in an additional role as a Syncona Gene Therapy Development Adviser. Jan’s expertise will allow better assessment of potential companies to add to the portfolio and add value to our existing companies.”

Further information:

Freeline Therapeutics

Anne Prener, Chief Executive Officer

+44 (0)20 7611 2031

Susan Hill, Chief Business Officer

contact@freelinetx.com

Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell, Chris Welsh, Sukaina Virji

+44 (0)2037 095 700

freelinetx@consilium-comms.com

Notes for Editors:

About Freeline Therapeutics

Freeline Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of potentially curative gene therapies for bleeding and other severe disorders. Liver-directed gene therapy has the potential to transform lives for people with severe diseases by providing a long-lasting, safe and reliable source of enzymes to the blood. The Company’s next-generation AAV gene therapy platform, developed by Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Prof. Amit Nathwani, Professor of Haematology at University College London, is being utilised to rapidly advance therapies towards the clinic and builds on the successful haemophilia B phase I/II trial conducted by UCL in collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Nathwani et al, N Engl J Med 2011; 365:2357-2365; Nathwani et al, N Engl J Med 2014; 371:1994-2004)

Based at the Royal Free Hospital, London, Freeline was launched in December 2015 with a £25 million Series A financing from Syncona. For further information please visit the Company’s website at: www.freelinetx.com

About Syncona

Syncona is a leading FTSE250 healthcare company focused on investing in and building global leaders in life science. Our vision is to deliver transformational treatments to patients in truly innovative areas of healthcare while generating superior returns for shareholders. Our current investment portfolio consists of seven high quality companies in life science and a leading range of fund investments.

We seek to partner with the best, brightest and most ambitious minds in science to build globally competitive businesses. We are established leaders in gene therapy, cell therapy and advanced diagnostics, and focus on delivering dramatic efficacy for patients in areas of high unmet need.

Our market leading funds portfolio seeks to generate superior returns by investing in long only and alternative investment funds. This represents a productively deployed evergreen funding base which enables us to take a long-term approach to investing in life sciences as we target the best new opportunities and support our existing portfolio companies to grow and succeed.

Syncona is aligned with two of the premium charitable funders in UK science, the Wellcome Trust, original founder of Syncona, and Cancer Research UK, both of which are significant shareholders in our business. We make a donation of 0.3% of Net Asset Value to a range of charities each year.

Latest News

Freeline Therapeutics (“Freeline”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of curative gene therapies for bleeding and other debilitating disorders, today announced that Anne Prener has been appointed Chief...

London, 21 October 2016 – Freeline Therapeutics (“Freeline”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of curative gene therapies for bleeding and other debilitating disorders, today announced that The...

London, 17 April 2016 – Freeline Therapeutics (“Freeline”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of gene therapies for bleeding and other debilitating disorders, today announced the acquisition of...